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Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all nations to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the necessity of a global fossil fuel phaseout, describing the creation of a roadmap as an “moral” answer to the global warming emergency.

The minister stressed, however, that involvement in this process would be voluntary and “self-determined” for interested governments.

This issue remains one of the most debated matters at the COP30 in the host country, with countries split over if and in what way such a roadmap can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has maintained a balanced stance on what can be included on the formal agenda.

Silva expressed approval for the potential of a roadmap, without directly committing the country to it. She stated: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is good that we have a map. But the map does not compel us to proceed, or to climb.”

Speaking further, the minister noted: “The map is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an moral response.”

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is starting its second week, are aiming to establish how a global transition of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations hope to advance a historic resolution made two years ago at COP28 to “move away from non-renewable energy sources.”

That commitment had no a schedule or specifics on how it could be achieved, and although it was passed by all, some nations have later attempted to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its real-world implications were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

As a result, there was no reference of the transition away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of that conference.

Because of this, Brazil has been cautious of calls by some countries to include the phaseout on the agenda for the current summit. But Silva has worked hard in private to make sure the pledge could be talked about at the summit apart from the formal agenda.

The minister won over the nation's president, who made public reference three times to the need to “move away from reliance on fossil fuels” at the global leaders' meeting that preceded the conference, and at the opening of the summit.

“The issue is something that we know at some point had to be put forward, because it is the only way to face the issue from the root,” the minister explained. “We acknowledge that it is not easy, and we cannot sell unrealistic expectations. Bringing up the topic is brave, and I wish [to see] this bravery from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not started the call for a transition, she said, because that had been done at the earlier summit. Instead, it was allowing the talks to occur in accordance with what some nations wished. “We understand these topics are delicate. We will provide the opportunity to talk about it,” the minister said.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a roadmap, a task Silva said could take a number of years because numerous nations confronted complicated issues around reliance on carbon-based energy, or wanted to use the revenue from exporting fossil fuels to finance their development.

“The country raises the subject, because it is simultaneously a producing nation and consumer,” the minister noted. “But Brazil is different, because Brazil, if it chooses to, need not depend on non-renewables. We have to recognise that there are certain nations that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and don’t have simple alternatives, and others where fossil fuels are the basis of their economy.

“To be just is to be just to everyone, but the essential, primordial fairness is not being unjust to the Earth, because it is our shared home.”

Should the pledge receives enough backing, the summit could establish a forum in which the process of creating a strategy to the transition could start.

The endeavor would require discussions with every participating nations to the UN climate treaty and criteria for how the process would proceed, the minister said. “Once we have standards, a governance structure can be developed; after we have a strategy, and establish protections to be able to build trust in the process, I am confident that with these components we can turn positive concepts into steps that are more defined, and more tangible.”

It is uncertain that a proposal to start drawing up a plan would be accepted at the conference, even if it may not need the formal approval of the summit, which proceeds by consensus and can be hijacked by special interests. COP analysts have indicated they believe there could be backing for such a idea from about 60 countries, but there are believed to be at least 40 against. A total of 195 countries participating at the negotiations.

“In spite of being the root cause of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most contentious topic there is within the international climate talks, so to see a chunky group of countries publicly supporting a route to realizing global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a planet where temperature rise remains below 1.5 degrees in which countries aren’t able to discuss ending fossil fuel use.”

“We require this language for actual in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but then when the main issue are the real challenge.”

Discussions carried on on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have still not been included into the formal schedule: commerce, openness, funding and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have proposed and those needed to hold to the 1.5C warming target.

The summit president promised a “note” that would cover these matters, after consultations – which have been underway since the start of the week – were unresolved. The official called on nations to embrace the “mutirão” attitude, meaning one of collaboration and constructive dialogue.

Progress on additional key topics – including adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the move to a low-carbon economy and how to strengthen governance capabilities in less developed nations – proceeded constructively, the presidency said.

The host nation's chief negotiator said the technical part of the summit process was approaching the end, and the high-level phase – when ministers who have the authority to alter their nations' positions arrive – was beginning.